Anti-war MEPs head to US with peace plea

The 31-strong delegation plans a “last push for peace” before the UN votes on a second resolution allowing the use of force, which was tabled by the US and Britain at the beginning of this week.

It follows a trip by the same group of deputies to Baghdad earlier this month.

Members of the delegation, led by French MEP Francis Wurtz, leader of the European United Left/Nordic Green Left group, will meet UN officials and non-governmental organisations in New York before travelling to Washington to meet senators opposed to military action in the Gulf state.

Meanwhile, a seminar will be held in the European Parliament on 4 March on human rights abuses suffered by women in Iraq.

UK Liberal deputy Emma Nicholson, who is organising the event along with the International Alliance for Justice, said: “Whatever may occur in the coming weeks, the Iraqi population – and particularly women – will be the most forgotten in the debate that follows.”